The Nova Scotia Masterworks Awards Foundation is pleased to announce the short list for the 2008 Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterworks Arts Award. The Award celebrates outstanding works of contemporary art that inspire and promote the development of artistic endeavour in Nova Scotia. In keeping with the multidisciplinary nature of the award, the finalists this year are from four categories: literature, visual arts, music and theatre.

The finalists are: All Our Wonder Unavenged, a collection of poetry by Don Domanski; The Colours of Citizen Arar, visual art by Garry Neill Kennedy; God’s Middle Name, a theatre production developed by Jennifer Overton, Scott Burke, Denyse Karn, Michael Doherty, Bruce MacKinnon and Rejean Cournoyer; Tectonic Shift, a forged metal sculpture for musical performance crafted by John Little; and Within Sight of Shore, a musical composition by Scott Macmillan.

The short list was announced at a ceremony in the Red Chamber of Province House today at which Ron Bourgeois, Chair of the Foundation noted: “This is the third year for the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Masterwork Arts Award and every year we are impressed with the quality and breadth of the nominations. It is truly inspiring as a Nova Scotian to have the opportunity to celebrate such great talent.”

Her Honour, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia congratulated all the nominees and went on to say “I want to thank the dedicated volunteers on the awards committee for their commitment to recognizing excellence in the arts, and I congratulate the finalists on their achievements.”

Each of the finalists received a certificate and cheque for $1000. The short listed works may be viewed on the Foundation’s website: www.nsmasterworks.ca. The winner will be announced at NSCAD University on Nov 25.

The $25,000 Award celebrates contemporary art. It recognizes the excellence and creation of a particular work of art or performance of art, which has made a significant impact in its public presentation, and contributed to the historical development and contemporary practice of the art form. It is sponsored by Scotiabank, The Province of Nova Scotia, The Craig Foundation and The Chronicle Herald.